Method and system for detecting a finger contact on a touchpad

Abstract

A method for executing a scroll control operation on a touchpad includes detecting a first simultaneous execution of a first operation executed by a first pointing object, and a second operation executed twice in succession by a second pointing object, wherein the first operation includes detecting a presence of the first pointing object on the touchpad, and the second operation includes contacting with the touchpad by the second pointing object, followed by lifting the second pointing object off the touchpad subsequently. The method further includes triggering a scroll control function in response to the detection of the first simultaneous execution of the first operation and the two successive second operations.

1 . A method for executing a scroll control operation on a touchpad, comprising the steps of:
 detecting a first simultaneous execution of a first operation executed by a first pointing object, and a second operation executed twice in succession by a second pointing object, wherein the first operation includes a presence of the first pointing object on the touchpad, and the second operation includes a contact with the touchpad by the second pointing object, followed by lifting the second pointing object off the touchpad subsequently; and   triggering a scroll control function in response to the detection of the first simultaneous execution of the first operation and the two successive second operations.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising predefining a first region and a second region on the touchpad, the first region and the second region associated with a first scrolling direction and a second scrolling direction, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the touchpad, an indication of a user initiating a scroll operation on one of the first region or the second region; and in response thereto,   executing the scroll operation in the corresponding scrolling directions.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 detecting a termination operation on the touchpad; and   terminating the scrolling control function in response to the termination operation.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising detecting a second simultaneous execution of the first operation and the two successive second operations, and terminating the scroll control function in response to the second simultaneous execution. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising detecting a sliding operation of an object on the touchpad, and terminating the scroll control function in response to the sliding operation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first region or the second region is associated with a first scrolling rate, and wherein the method further comprises predefining at least one sub-region in at least one of the first region or the second region, wherein the at least one sub-region is associated a second, different scrolling rate than the first scrolling rate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising predefining four regions on the touchpad, wherein the four predefined regions are associated with an upward scrolling direction, downward scrolling direction, leftward scrolling direction and rightward scrolling direction, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . A device for executing a scroll control operation on a touchpad, the device comprising:
 a sensing unit configured to detect a first simultaneous execution of a first operation executed by a first pointing object and a second operation executed twice in succession by a second pointing object, wherein the first operation includes a contact with the touchpad by the first pointing object, and the second operation includes contacting with the touchpad by the second pointing object, followed by lifting the second pointing object off the touchpad subsequently; and   a processing unit configured to trigger the scroll control operation in response to the detection of the first simultaneous execution of the first operation and the two successive second operations.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the sensing unit is further configured to receive an indication of a user initiating a scroll operation over the touchpad, and execute the scroll operation in response to the detection. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the sensing unit is further configured to detect a termination operation executed on the touchpad. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to terminate the scroll control function in response to the detection of a termination operation. 
     
     
         13 . A method for executing a scroll control operation on a touchpad, comprising the steps of:
 predefining at least a first region and a second region on the touchpad, the first region and the second region associated with a first scrolling direction and a second scrolling direction, respectively;   detecting a presence of a first pointing object on the touchpad;   detecting an operation executed twice in succession by a second pointing object in the presence of the first pointing object, the operation including a contact with the touchpad by the second pointing object, followed by lifting the second pointing object off the touchpad subsequently; and   triggering a scroll control function in the respective scrolling direction in response to the detection of the two successive operations.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication of a user initiating a scroll operation on one of the first region or the second region; in response thereto,   executing the scroll operation in corresponding scrolling directions;   detecting a termination operation on the touchpad; and   terminating the scrolling control function in response to the detection of the termination operation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the scroll operation further comprises presenting a pointing object on the touchpad on one of the first region or the second region. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the termination operation further comprises presenting a first pointing object on the touchpad, and during the presence of the first pointing object, twice contacting with the touchpad by the second pointing object, each contact followed by lifting the second pointing object off the touchpad. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the termination operation includes a sliding operation by a pointing object on the touchpad. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first region or the second region is associated with a first scrolling rate, and wherein the method further comprises predefining at least one sub-region in at least one of the first region or the second region, wherein the at least one sub-region is associated a second, different scrolling rate than the first scrolling rate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising predefining a third region and a fourth region on the touchpad, wherein the each of the predefined regions are associated with an upward scrolling direction, downward scrolling direction, leftward scrolling direction and rightward scrolling direction, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising predefining at least one sub-region in one of the predefined regions, wherein at least one of the predefined regions is associated with a first scrolling rate, wherein the at least one sub-region is associated with a second, different scrolling rate than the first scrolling rate.